The Master Ernst standing before Laine truly appears quite aged, heavily ravaged by time. Nevertheless, his body and mind remain strong, and this Demon Hunter Supreme Grandmaster still has decades of life ahead.

"What do you know, young man? Do you truly understand what Chaos is? Do you know how severe the Skaven pestilence is?" Ernst sensed the Emperor's hesitation, which filled him with agitation. The Supreme Grandmaster intensified his tone: "Once a city is contaminated, it must be utterly destroyed and cannot return to its original state!"

"Wasn't the Nuer City District rebuilt even after it was nearly half destroyed by the Skaven Ratmen over twenty years ago?" Laine countered sharply, continuing, "The southern Kakasong Duchy of Brittania often suffers from Ratmen harassment. Yes, Ratmen can destroy our cities and spread plagues among crowds, but what of it? Have humans ever succumbed in terror?"

"According to your perspective, every time Ratmen attack, we should destroy a city, every time Ratmen attack, we should destroy a city. How many cities do we have to spare?" Laine questioned, "I examined the refugees' health; some are indeed sick, but none have caught the plague. As for the city, it is of course better to burn it all down and rebuild."'

Listening to Laine's analysis, the Emperor nodded, clearly showing he also disapproved of Ernst's advice. Whether from an economic angle or strategic planning, Hemgart was exceptionally important; while a city can be rebuilt after destruction, the Emperor was not inclined to accept its complete abandonment.

Ernst flared with anger; the Demon Hunter Supreme Grandmaster fired at Laine: "Young man, do you really understand Chaos? Do you know what Chaos Corruption entails? Don't imagine that merely because you have confronted Chaos Great Demons and slain the Divine Chosen Champion of Khorne, you are like a jester eagerly flaunting a couple of quotes read from books, unaware of your own arrogance."

Here it comes! Laine chuckled internally; evidently, Master Ernst failed to reason with Laine, and so the Demon Hunter Supreme Grandmaster, unskilled at debates, resorted to posturing and even personal attacks.

Very commonplace, isn't it?

"And do you understand what Chaos is, Master Ernst? I respect you; I know your remarkable achievements, but I must point out that my understanding of Chaos surpasses yours. I have personally heard Khorne's whispers and faced Chaos Great Demons head-on; I have even directly engaged with the forbidden knowledge within the Book of Chaos." Laine's temper rose as well; he addressed the Demon Hunter, "Old age does not necessarily imply greater understanding."

"Kid, grab your Warhammer." Master Ernst disdained further banter with Laine; he dual-wielded a Scimitar and an axe: "Let's go outside for a duel, and whoever loses shuts up!"

"I am the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady; I will not duel over such absurd reasons." Laine laughed: "I am also a noble of Brittania; how Hemgart is handled has nothing to do with me—I am merely giving my opinion."

"Enough, stop arguing, Master Ernst, Laine, I know you're both well-intentioned, just differing in views. Let me ponder this properly." The Emperor signaled the two to cease their quarrel, as his head was beginning to ache.

"Well... humans, do you perhaps have some misunderstandings about the Skaven Ratmen?" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

In the tense atmosphere, Belgar, sitting on the side, spoke up with faint disdain and superiority: "Fundamentally, both of you are wrong! You don't truly understand the Skaven Ratmen's combat strategies and operations. This Demon Hunter muddles Ratmen with Chaos, and although Laine may know a bit more, he still made a major mistake!"

Ernst's eyes, filled with murderous intent, shot hate-filled flames at Belgar for a moment, before shaking his head and refraining from arguing. Dwarves' obstinacy is renowned worldwide; the Demon Hunter can judge and execute humans, but not dwarves.

Laine was scolded too, but he maintained a better mindset. Leaning his body against the chair, the Count took two deep breaths, realizing that his emotions had indeed become overly agitated. This unexpected disaster seemed to appear out of nowhere, leaving Teresa and Veronica injured, and though Surya hadn't been hurt, she was very tired after prolonged battle. The imperial journey was supposed to be the continuation of their honeymoon—who knew it would end up like this?

Laine was, after all, a person with feelings.

Having been doused by Belgar's cold reality, Laine gradually calmed down, used his mind to think things through, and then decided to sincerely consult Belgar: "Your Majesty King Belgar, I know you have fought many times against the Skaven Ratmen and understand them better, so in such situations, what should we do, what should humans do?"

"Indeed, King Belgar, you are familiar with the Ratmen." Emperor Carl Franz's eyes brightened; he also made a display of humbly seeking guidance: "Please teach us."

"Well, asking me is asking the right person." Belgar openly accepted Laine and Emperor Carl's inquiry, feeling very honored. He stroked his white beard, downed a mouthful of the Imperial Royal Family's exclusive Koben's Finest malt stout, and finally shared his opinion.

"Firstly, the Demon Hunter's opinion is wrong. If the Empire abandons Hemgart, that is precisely what the Ratmen desire; the Skaven Ratmen can then openly occupy the ruins of this city, colonize it, and establish an underground city, spreading the plague and corruption from Hemgart to Rick Territory, Montfort Duchy, until the entire Gray Mountain Range."

Everyone nodded, and the Emperor followed up with a question: "Then should we follow Laine's opinion and rebuild this city?"

"Laine's opinion is also incorrect." Belgar continued to shake his head: "Rebuilding the city is easy, but destroying it is equally easy. You probably didn't know that if the Skaven Ratmen could stealthily attack Hemgart, they must have already established a frontline secret base and teleportation gate below the mountains. The teleportation gate will be very concealed and sparsely populated; those cursed Skaven Ratmen will joyfully watch humans rebuild this city and flourish again. Then, when they feel it's time to harvest the 'human reserves,' Hemgart will be destroyed again, over and over."

Listening to Belgar's words left Laine and Emperor Carl Franz drenched in cold sweat.

Nobody anticipated such a scenario!

Whether the Empire or Brittania, records and descriptions of Skaven Ratmen were scant; nobody imagined that the vile Skaven Ratmen were so cunning!

"Surprised?" Belgar exclaimed, "This is a lesson learned through the lives and blood of countless dwarves!"

"Okay, I didn't know." Demon Hunter Supreme Grandmaster Ernst snorted, glancing at Laine, reluctantly admitting his oversight, then had to continue questioning Belgar: "Then, Dwarf, can you lead us into the mountain depths to destroy the Skaven Ratmen's frontline base and teleportation gate?"

"Certainly." Belgar nodded solemnly: "Otherwise, I wouldn't have rushed here to help you all, especially Laine."

"Oh? Me?" Laine asked curiously.

"I led my battered remnants to Breeze Castle; you arranged for Dugen and others to send us urgently needed food and supplies. When I arrived at your territory, you hospitably entertained me and my kin, even letting me attend your wedding, later supporting us with substantial food. These things, I, Belgar, have etched in my heart." Belgar raised his Hammer of Angland: "Dwarves are not a race that forgets friends; remember that."

"...Thank you." Laine was a bit moved in his heart; indeed, these matters had nothing to do with Belgar. Belgar returned to aid simply because Laine and his companions were in danger, prompting the King of the Angland Clan to rush here.

"As for the Empire... Dwarven help is not free!" Belgar then addressed the Emperor: "I want twenty bags of barley flour and thirty barrels of premium malt beer, that's not asking too much, is it?"

"If everything goes well, I'll give you fifty barrels." The Emperor generously replied; fifty barrels of premium malt beer would not exceed the value of three hundred Gold Marks, and with twenty bags of barley flour, it'd be merely four to five hundred Gold Marks. Hemgart's annual tax revenue is over a thousand Gold Marks.

"Very well, and I have another request: besides my people, I need the Emperor to deploy one hundred of the most elite Great Swordsmen, fifty of the most elite Walking Knights, and Laine to accompany me. My demand is that everyone must swear to follow my command during subterranean combat!" Belgar proposed a second condition.

"No problem, I'll have Heilberg muster the troops under your command." Emperor Carl readily agreed.

"Very good, rest up and gather your strength, we'll set off tomorrow morning!" Belgar proclaimed: "The Skaven Ratmen are nocturnal creatures, and daytime is when they're drowsy!"

"The Skaven Ratmen's doom has arrived!"